With Sirens Ritter Sports coach Marco Risso watching the proceedings in an unusually passive mode in the knowledge that his team had a mammoth task to subdue their opponents, Neptunes Emirates once again showed what quality they are made of as they all but destroyed the northerners to the tune of 16-8.
Indeed, the Reds are displaying the best brand of waterpolo with all their units combining well and showing great sharpness in front of the opposing goal, particularly through Steve Camilleri, scorer of another six goals yesterday.
The Balluta Bay team’s power play soon got them off the mark with the Camilleri brothers, Steve, twice, and Jordan, putting them 3-0 in front in the opening session.
The Reds repelled with relative ease anything Sirens could throw at them as Alexandar Ciric kept a watchful eye on Csaba Kiss while Arpad Babay was also well supervised collectively.
Neptunes’ edge was again evident in the second session during which Babay and Steve Camilleri were caught on two expulsions, but with the former player still in the water.
Two goals each for Ciric and Tamas Molnar and one each from Steve and Jordan Camilleri had Sirens replying through Babay, Kiss and Stephen Micallef for a 9-3 Neptunes advantage when ends were changed.
Steve Camilleri was back in the water for the third session with Sirens trying to catch him on a third foul. Neptunes kept up the momentum with Molnar netting a stunning goal from ten metres out, Steve Camilleri adding two more and Michele Stellini hitting home from an angle.
Sirens could only make their presence felt when captain David Cutajar saw his shot skim past the reliable Alan Borg Cole.
One sensed that the Reds would go for some casual fare as their team led 13-4 into the last session. Sirens tried to preserve their ego.
Neptunes, with most of their tailenders in the water, were now in complacent mood. Their task had long been accomplished.
A superior Valletta United eased to victory against Otters Nivea in yesterday’s Division One match in programme.
The result was practically sealed by the end of the second quarter as the City team netted seven times to open an 11-4 lead.
It had been close in the first session which ended 4-3 for Valletta. However, when Andrei Edwards was red-carded, midway in the second session, any hopes the Gozitan team may have had disappeared.
Despite the efforts of five-goal Ionut Nesculescu, Otters were out of sort as Milos Korolija kept banging in the goals for Valletta, with centre Ryan Mock (four goals) adding to his team’s tally.
Valletta won the third quarter 4-1, easing away in the last session and allowing their opponents to cut down the deficit from ten to six goals.
Sliema statement
Sliema ASC yesterday confirmed that they had parted ways with coach Sergio Afric by mutual agreement.
Club president Michael Gatt said in a statement that for the forthcoming games the team will be under the charge of interim coach Peter Decesare and his assistant Paul Privitera.
“We are grateful for Sergio’s efforts over the past years, but both parties thought in the best interest of the club that our relationship is amicably terminated,” Gatt said.
“We wish him all the best for the future.”
Afric had his first stint with Sliema in 2001 and went on to win four national cham-pionships in a row.
The Croat joined Neptunes in 2005 but returned to the Blues’ fold three years later and led the team to the 2009 triple crown – Winter League, National Championship and the KO competition.
Summaries
Ta’ Xbiex 17
ASA Under-17 16
(2-3, 5-4, 5-3, 5-6)
Ta’ Xbiex: J. Navarro, L. Borg, K. Pace, L. Pace, S. Cini 3, M. Spiteri, K. Galea 1, R. D’Amato 1, P. Paris 1, P. Markoch 1, R. Attard, O. Zam-mit 3, Y. Selesz 7.
ASA U-17: Z. Sciberras, M. Lanzon 2, A. Galea 6, A. Mifsud, M. Grech 3, B. Plumpton 2, M. Fenech 1, G. Mizzi, J. Napier 1, M. Zammit, A. Camenzuli, N. Bugelli 1, D. Spiteri.
Refs: S. Licari, P. Balzan.
Otters 11
Valletta 17
(3-4, 1-7, 1-4, 6-2)
Otters: N. Grixti, G. Attard, G. Zammit, A. Azzopardi, M. Dimech, A. Cachia, K. Scicluna 2, D. Schembri 1, A. Edwards, S. Dimech, C. Martin, I. Nesculescu 5, G. Grima Scott 3.
Valletta: R. Sciortino, S. Meli, R. Calleja, M. Korolija 5, M. Cordina 1, S. Cachia 2, R. Mock 4, N. Bonello Ghio, C. Debono, R. Scerri 3, A. Arrigo, G. Filipovic 2, Z. Sciberras.
Refs: M. Angilleri, R. Spiteri.
Sirens 8
Neptunes 16
(0-3, 3-6, 1-4, 4-3)
Sirens: A. Grech, Z. Mizzi, M. Grech, J. Napier, A. Babay 1, Z. Kiss 2, A. Camenzuli, D. Cutajar 3, A. Zarb Cousin, A. Attard 1, S. Micallef 1, G. Debono, J. Cre-mona.
Neptunes: A. Borg Cole, N. Lan-zon 1, A. Sammut, M. Stellini 1, T. Agius, A. Ciric 2, S. Camilleri 6, J. Camilleri 2, G. Pace, S. Gravina, B. Lanzon, T. Molnar 4, C. Mer-cieca.
Refs: P. Balzan, M. Calabro.
Next fixtures
Friday: 18.00 Marsaxlokk vs Ta’ Xbiex; 19.15 Exiles vs San Ġiljan.
Saturday: 16.45 ASA Under-17 vs Valletta; 18.00 Marsascala vs Otters; 19.15 Sliema vs Sirens.
Premier League
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Neptunes | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 42 | 19 | 9 |
| San Ġiljan | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 19 | 6 |
| Sliema | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 29 | 35 | 3 |
| Exiles | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 15 | 25 | 0 |
| Sirens | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 17 | 30 | 0 |
Division One
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Valletta | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 41 | 32 | 6 |
| Marsascala | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 35 | 35 | 6 |
| Ta’ Xbiex | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 24 | 20 | 4 |
| Otters | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 17 | 23 | 1 |
| Marsaxlokk | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 21 | 28 | 0 |